Sunday, 29 May 2016

To plant a garden is to have an endless source of inspiration, when you like to paint.
I have been busy creating both a front and a back garden here in my new Scottish home. I have not been so busy, that I haven't had time to paint.
Once the work is done and the plants are growing, I take some time to sketch and to paint. This way, not only do I work in my garden, but I take some time to enjoy it also. Physical work is good, as is feeding the soul. Gardens and painting do both for me.

The painting is from my front garden - and I call it "Spring"

and the sketches come from my back garden, which is still being created. You can follow that progress, if you'd like to see it,HERE

Sketch one is a metal trellis of leaf and birds and two was the beginning of a trollius (globeflower) . That will have to be finished another day, because the sun was so hot, the paint dried before I could complete my wet-in-wet washes!
Both will eventually become fully worked up paintings - these quick sketches are pleasurable to do and help me decide if I want to go further with them.
Saunders Waterford paper was used throughout. I like my sketch paper to be the same as my painting paper - and Saunders suits me down to the ground!

Until the next time, happy painting, happy sketching, happy gardening!

Thursday, 19 May 2016

On a trip to Burntisland in Fife, I had the pleasure of having Sunday lunch with friends at the Kingswood Hotel. Staff and management were very kind and helpful.
I had arrived much earlier than my friends, so I took a coffee and biscuits into the garden, which was simply delightful. Within the garden was a little building, not in use, but surrounded by greenery, so enchanting that I had to make a little painting.

Meet Kingswood and make up your own story of who lives behind that red door!